The arrival of autumn is the moment of the year when we’re all  in for feeling cozy and grounded. October is simply peak perfection—sweater weather, warm fires, leaf peeping, crisp, cool days, apple and pumpkin treats, hearty soups, an extra soft blanket…  These are the things that get us in the mood for gathering together in coziness to share the joy they inspire.

October marks an official turning of seasons and shifts our mindset from the carefree spontaneity of summer to embracing warmth, shelter, traditions, and connection. We look for inspiration in our fall family favorites and seasonal rituals. Above all, we look forward to enjoying the time to slow down. Let’s take advantage of October to savor and share the simple pleasures of autumn with our loved ones.

On the Autumn Agenda

October outings —  This month is quintessential for leaf peeping, apple picking, autumn picnics, pumpkin carving, hay rides, and so much more, especially in New England. Be sure to get out and enjoy this picturesque season to its fullest! Gather your family and friends for a nature hike to delight in the stunning foliage. A little reminder, if you’re thinking ahead to holiday photos—there’s no better setting for capturing magical moments with loved ones than during an outing in the golden light of autumn. 

Starry fireside nights — Although the days are getting shorter, the longer nights are spectacular. On October 17th, the Hunter’s Moon will brighten our skies. So let’s bundle up and celebrate with an outdoor fireside cocktail gathering or dinner with friends. Spruce up your outdoor space with elements that bring warmth and comfort. With fall plantings in your containers,  scatter soft, textured blankets around your fireplace or patio, hang string lights, and place lanterns and fall-scented candles on tables. Outdoor heaters are also a great idea if you’d like to extend your al fresco gathering time for weeks to come. Greet your guests with an autumn-inspired cocktail (check out our epicure for a few favorites). Warm, festive beverages and a seasonal grazing snack, or a cheese and charcuterie board may be all that is needed to brighten moments of joyous connection with friends and family.

It’s game day! — Football season is a great excuse to host a tailgate party or an ideal occasion to have a game-day gathering at home. Prepare sweet and savory snacks, picnic-style faves, a few seasonal sips, and warm home-baked treats. 

Pumpkins and broomsticks — Get into the Halloween spirit and gather with friends for warm cider, homemade pizzas, and some spirited snacks and beverages to carve pumpkins, welcome trick-or-treaters, or just celebrate a festive farewell to the month of October. Visit our Epicure for pumpkin inspiration and seasonal recipes.

A Fall Refresh

Autumn Style Edit — A change in seasons is the ideal time to edit our personal style and home spaces, and this year we’re all about effortless classics. We have found that styling, both for the home and for ourselves, starts with foundational basics—a tailored blazer, a great pair of jeans, a cashmere sweater, an  oversized cardigan to layer over a dress or long, silky skirt… Paring down is the secret, and focusing on timeless pieces that are versatile and a snap to accessorize—a beautiful scarf, a new pair of boots, those super-cute and comfy Mary Janes, a warm colored jacket, or new leather bag. With basics covered and a little pop of autumn—you’re good to go!

Here’s a plj tried-and-true tip: A seasonal wardrobe change is the perfect opportunity to organize our closets. We know, it’s a daunting task… but it’s SO worth it! Take out what you no longer wear and categorize and arrange your closet by color. The result is pleasing to the eye and makes it so easy to find what you’re looking for. Finding simplicity through organizing, removing clutter, and going back to basics gives us a clean, refreshing start—and isn’t that a productive way to enjoy the shift in seasons?

We apply the same philosophy to our home design—less is definitely more! First, remove clutter and donate unwanted items—a great way to reuse, repurpose, and reduce waste. Next, take inventory of what you have and consider whether certain items could be better positioned to do more. Sometimes just moving pieces from one space to another can breathe new life into a space. It’s amazing how good it feels to start from a clean, edited space—now that is a great source of renewed energy! Other go-to ways to rejuvenate a living space are fresh paint, replacing an area rug, updating artwork, or adding a mirror. Incorporate a few autumnal design elements—an earth-tone vase, new faux stems, scented candles, textured linens and a few restful throw blankets. These relatively simple changes can make a big impact when it comes to creating a fresh and cozy feeling in your home this fall.

Fall into Wellness

At plj, we focus on the importance of finding balance and living a healthy lifestyle as it relates to longevity. And the start of a new season reminds us to revive our sleep schedule. Getting a good night’s sleep is fundamentally important to our well-being and goes a long way to enjoying a better, more energized day.

Here’s our thoughts on getting a restful night…

Facilitating good sleeping habits starts with a solid bedtime routine. Set a pattern so your body and mind know when it’s time to unplug. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time(if possible)  Keep your bedroom, cozy and inviting, but the temperature cool, dim the lights, use a diffuser with a favorite relaxing scent. Lavender is one of our favorite plants for its relaxing properties, and find it an amazing sleep aid. We love adding a lavender essential oil in a diffuser, or a few drops in a warm bath. If lavender doesn’t work for you choose a calming scent you love. Next, start to wind down with a soothing herbal infusion (avoid caffeinated teas ordrinking too many fluids near bedtime). Calming music and soft lighting are also helpful to promote relaxation. If reading or journaling helps you relax, this quiet time is ideal. Try to avoid using your laptop, tablet, or phone, since the blue light from our screens sends signals to the brain that it’s time to be awake. Finding ways to quiet our minds is an integral part of a restful night.  If you lie awake or wake up thinking of something you have to do, try keeping a small notebook next to your bed and simply jot down those thoughts. Putting them to rest this way can let you get to sleep. 

Make your bed cozy and inviting, but keep the bedroom cool. With a cooler room temperature and layered bedding to keep comfortable, we fall asleep faster and achieve deeper, more restful sleep. Set a diffuser with a favorite relaxing scent. Lavender is one of our favorite plants for its relaxing properties, and we find it to be an amazing sleep aid. We love adding a lavender essential oil in a diffuser, or a few drops in a warm bath. If lavender doesn’t work for you, choose a calming scent you love. 

Next, start to wind down with a soothing herbal infusion (avoid caffeinated teas or drinking too many fluids near bedtime). Calming music and soft lighting before lights out are also helpful to promote relaxation. If reading or journaling helps you relax, this quiet time is ideal. Try to avoid using your laptop, tablet, or phone, since the blue light from our screens sends signals to the brain that it’s time to be awake. Finding ways to quiet our minds is an integral part of a restful night. If you lie awake or wake up thinking of something you have to do, try keeping a small notebook next to your bed where you can simply jot down those thoughts. Putting them to rest this way can let you disengage your busy mind and get to sleep. If you tend to fall asleep while watching tv, use a timer so it doesn’t wake you later.

Also, think about texture sensations. Wear soft, comfortable loungewear and layer soft, breathable linens on your bed. Body temperature tends to fluctuate during sleep, so be mindful of layers—make sure they can be easily added or removed. Finally, we find it helpful to keep a small tray on a nightstand or bedside table with a few sleep essentials: a small pitcher of water with a glass, a soothing scented hand cream and/or foot lotion, lip balm, and a simple bud vase with a flower (a little plj TLC for yourself 🤍).

Autumn Design Notes

Simple, sweet fall foliage — Add brightness to your outdoor greenery with vibrant chrysanthemums, sedum, and a variety of wispy wheat grasses. Mini pumpkins and gourds bring a seasonal accent to window boxes and outdoor planters. Fill your vases with combinations of dahlias, ranunculus, Limelights, alstroemeria, sunflowers, delphinium, and a variety of textured and ornamental greens and branches. Incorporate woven containers, interesting vessels and elements from nature in your arrangements. Simple, sweet fall is just the inspiration we need to create a crisp new look for our blooming arrangements. 

Set a harvest table — Layering is key to designing an autumn table. Set the table basics, then let your personal style shine  when editing the details of your table design. Incorporate fall hues, patterns and texture with glassware, napkins, plates, and servingware—olive wood and woven elements work well for creating earthy autumnal warmth. Bring in items from nature (look to your outdoor space for inspiration). Branches, greens, leaves, autumn blooms, wheat sheaves, and various pumpkins and gourds all bring a seasonal flare to your design. Use candles, mini lamps, lanterns to create a relaxing and cozy ambience. Shop our home collection for relaxed linen and cotton napkins, kitchen accessories, olive-wood tapas boards and napkin rings, and elegant woven accessories to compliment all your fall entertaining plans. 

Holiday Season on the horizon  — Taking a little time now to prepare and organize plans for holiday home design and gatherings will go a long way to allowing you to relax and relish the holiday spirit when the bustle of the holiday season is upon us. 

As you design your home for fall, try to envision how you can adapt your design for the holidays with simple edits then add a layer of holiday cheer. Make it easy to transition pumpkins and fall elements like foliage and branches to winter greenery for holiday garlands, wreaths, and trees. Simplicity is the key here. Starting with a neutral color base for your tables and home decor makes the process seamless. 

Looking for a little fresh inspiration with holiday planning and design? At partager la joie we’re here to guide you along the way. We love sharing our design tips to help you create a holiday home and plan a seasonal gathering that showcases your unique style. Learn more about our personalized Inspiration Workshops.

Cool, Calm, and Collected

Seasonal scents inspire our home collection this month—Sunday Morning, Winter Woods, and Fireside candles with notes of  juniper, cedar, and amber are perfect for setting a fall mood! Our wellness collection is full of sleep essentials. Stock up on our Signature Hand Cream and Calm and Relax bath and body salts and oils. Our lavender eye pillows are just perfect for relaxation. Cozy loungewear, travel scarves, super-soft Italian herringbone blankets, and woven and olive-wood table accents add inviting warmth to our seasonal style. And if you’re ready… get a start on your holiday shopping! We’ve got adorable wool bags and pouches, super-cute winter weather accessories, journals, and so much more—all perfect little gifts for the special someones on your list this season.

Gather and Graze

As temperatures fall we welcome warmth and comfort into our menus. Autumn baking and hot beverages make their debut as the seasons change. Hearty and healthy is the theme for our seasonal dishes highlighting our favorite ingredients—pumpkin, squash, and apples… Have a fall favorite you’d like to share with us? Tag us in your recipe post on IG—we’d love to hear from you and share the joy of foodie goodness with our readers!

Autumn Epicure

Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding

Brown Butter Pumpkin Seed Granola

Pumpkin Nut Milk Creamer

Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup

Kale, Brussel Sprout, and Apple Salad

Baked Brie with Honey and Figs

Autumn Roasted Vegetables

Personalized Pizzas

Pumpkin Mac & Cheese

Pasta e Fagioli

Autumn Apple Cake

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Apple Cider Mimosa

Honey and Bourbon Hot Toddy

What We Love Most About October

As the seasons turn, we can’t get enough of that cozy, contented, restful feeling of being home. We’re taking comfort in the mindset that who we are is enough and that what’s important is the time we spend with the people we care about most. And the temperatures couldn’t be more perfect for our mood—breathtaking sunny days and cool evenings. 

We focus our intentions on the simplicity of life and the joy in our everyday moments. Taking time to slow down to appreciate the beauty in harvest season reminds us to recognize the abundance in our lives and celebrate the love and connections in our families, friends, and communities. Let’s reflect on all the goodness autumn offers us and look forward to the holiday season ahead with warmth and gratitude in our hearts.